Northwood came out second best despite a Kyle Matthews hat-trick as East Thurrock came from behind to take the points in a seven goal thriller at Chestnut Avenue. There were a couple of changes to the Woods’ line-up as Gilbert Nuako and Ryan Tackley returned in place of Harry Smart and the injured Anthony Page.

Woods were quickly into their stride and they enjoyed a dream start as Matthews slotted the ball past the advancing Richard Wray in the Rocks’ goal following good work from Leon Osei to open the scoring on four minutes.

Things got even better as John Christian played a perfectly timed through-ball to Matthews, who delivered another emphatic finish to a swift counter-attack to extend Northwood’s lead on the 15 minute mark.

East Thurrock responded positively to being behind and Northwood had a lot of defending to do as the lively Kye Ruel twice went close for the Rocks before Steve Sheehan sent a volley fizzing over the bar.

Woods were managing to soak up the pressure whilst continuing to look for a counter attacking opportunity, one such break away leading to Matthews sending a speculative shot over the Rocks bar after the Northwood scorer spotted Wray off his line. 

The opening half finished with East Thurrock still probing for goals but without any success, Max Cornhill shooting beyond ‘keeper Mitch Swain but into the side-netting whilst Ruel was denied by an offside flag.
Northwood were the first to threaten after the half-time break as Leon Osei played the ball wide to Hugo Figueiredo, who set off towards the visitors’ goalmouth and his low drive was parried by Wray, but the loose ball was hastily cleared by the Rocks defence.

Normal service was soon resumed as the play switched to the other end and the visitors were finally rewarded for their persistence as Sam Higgins fired a deflected free-kick through a leaky Northwood wall to reduce the arrears on 51 minutes.

Three minutes later the scores were level as Ruel took advantage of a flat Northwood defence to shoot beyond Swain despite Tackley’s valiant efforts to prevent the ball from crossing the line. And the dramatic turnaround was completed on 58 minutes as the Rocks took the lead on 58 minutes, Cornhill giving Swain no chance with a stunning volley from the edge of the box.

Northwood had been hit by a whirlwind, but they gathered themselves and set about trying to retrieve the situation and Matthews had a good chance for a third goal following Figueiredo’s pull-back, but the shot was miscued.

And the contest appeared to be over when the visitors scored a fourth goal on 71 minutes as the unfortunate Michael Peacock turned Kris Newby’s low cross into his own net.

But Northwood refused to throw in the towel, and they ensured an interesting finale to the match as Matthews completed his hat-trick on 73 minutes with a curling shot from the edge of the box.

Will Hudson was introduced for Sam Sharples whilst Scott Purdue replaced the injured Peacock, who was the victim of a poor challenge.

Woods were playing with renewed vigour and they threatened to draw level as Matthews latched onto Figueiredo’s low cross but the close range shot was blocked by the Rocks’ defence.

At the other end, Swain was called upon to produce smart saves to deny Higgins and substitute Sam Berry in a frenetic finish to an enthralling game but there was to be no further scoring to leave Northwood reflecting on their first home league defeat since early December.

Report by ROBIN PIPER

Photos by James Brown